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Friday, December 9, 2011

ISN'T IT IRONIC.... SUPER BOWL, CANCER & INDY

I am closing out a week of trying to keep up with the twipsters (that would be tweeps with a tip) that have been coming out of San Antonio, with information for everyone to share. First, I'd like to mention that the brains behind twitter? Great name. Twitter and tweet are terrific springboards for all sorts of words that are quickly understood from the tweet deck!

Today I got a Call To Action from the Army of Women. Occasionally (really rarely), the researchers need things that most people are hesitant to provide. To further complicate this, the eligibility criteria excludes most women who might be inclined to participate because of a close relative. Anyone with close relatives who have been diagnosed with breast cancer can NOT participate. This study is for healthy women with NO history. So, those of you who have dear friends...... we are looking for you. And, you have to be a night shift worker. Like I said. Some things are more difficult than others. Difficult is not impossible and we have to "do difficult" to make a difference. (Personal aside as you read the study: I had this "procedure" and it is not painful.)

Why is all of this ironic? First of all, the Super Bowl is in Indianapolis and this season, the Indianapolis Colts have YET TO WIN a single game. Go figure. I'm a fan of many sports but if you are not, this will not amuse you. Peyton Manning is The Man. He is the quarterback and he is injured. In team sports, many are careful not to place the performance of a team on any single player but damn. Peyton is a superstar. Peyton is injured. They lost every game. I would have to consult with my Information Compass (aka my son) to see if Indy MIGHT have been in contention if not for the injury. You see, in the history of the Super Bowl, NO TEAM has ever played on their home field. Ever. This could have been historic. As a New Yorker with two football teams calling NY home even though their shared stadium is in NEW JERSEY, I'm holding out hope that in 2014 when the Super Bowl is here, one of the NY teams will destroy that factoid. And, given the irony of Indy, I gotta go with the Giants. And the baby brother of said injured Indy Manning. Eli 2014.

This is ironic? To me it is. And this is relevant to anything b e c a u s e .....? ? ?

Well..... Army of Women is attempting to fill a study. Assisting in the process is Komen. Yes, this IS ironic, too. Many will understand the irony, many more will not..... Me? I'm hopeful this is the beginning of *Anew Direction* for everything.

THIS is what a "Call to Action" looks like although this one has a little twist and that's pretty damn good! THIS is what I call collaboration. Kudos to all parties! And, can we please get this study filled? The researchers need 23 more women.

And the army? We need a million. We still haven't hit 400,000. Now that you can see what a real email looks like.... and they only come a couple of times a month..... can we get moving on THAT, too?

Dear AnneMarie,

The Army of Women challenged the scientific community to expand its current focus to include breast cancer prevention research conducted on healthy women, and these researchers responded! This study has the potential to help take us beyond a cure because it focuses on what causes breast cancer and how to prevent it.
There is epidemiological research demonstrating that working the night shift increases a woman's breast cancer risk. Researchers from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University want to figure out why by studying breast tissue samples from women who have NOT had breast cancer. Their aim: to see if there are differences in the cells in the breast tissue of women who work day shifts and those who work night shifts.

Help the research team reach their goal by donating breast tissue at the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. In partnership with the Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee, the Komen Tissue Bank is holding a tissue "super drive" on January 28 and 29, 2012. They're expecting hundreds of donors and YOU could be a part of it by donating your breast tissue for this research study. If you're a night-shift worker who lives in or near Indianapolis or you're traveling to Indianapolis for the Super Bowl, please read on to learn more about what is involved and who can participate. If you're not a night-shift worker but know someone who is, please forward this Call to Action to them!

What's the study about?

The research team is studying breast tissue samples from women who have not had breast cancer, who have worked either day or night shifts for at least five consecutive years to better understand how wake/sleep cycle disruptions may increase breast cancer risk.

What's involved?

If you join the Shift Work and Breast Cancer Risk Study you will be contacted by phone to answer questions about your health and work history. If you are eligible for the study and decide to participate, you will be asked to complete a consent form and a questionnaire about your work history, your shift work, your sleep patterns, factors that contribute to stress in your life, your job satisfaction, family medical history, and additional background information. You will receive and return the materials in the mail (at no cost to you). After reviewing the completed questionnaires, the research team will choose the women who they will ask to provide the breast tissue samples.

To collect the tissue samples, the researchers and the Army of Women are collaborating with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis. If you are chosen to participate and you choose to provide a breast tissue sample, you will be asked to attend a tissue collection event at the Komen Tissue Bank on January 28 or 29, 2012, in Indianapolis, whichever is most convenient for you. In addition to donating tissue for this study, you will also be asked to donate tissue and a blood sample to be included in the Komen Tissue Bank for future studies not related to this specific study.

The Komen Tissue Bank obtains and stores specimens (tissue, blood, urine, or saliva) for researchers to use in their breast cancer studies. Just as the Army of Women serves as a resource for researchers looking for women, the Komen Tissue Bank is a resource for any researcher looking for healthy tissue sample. When you arrive at the Komen Tissue Bank, you will be asked to complete a separate Consent Form document and questionnaire for the Komen Tissue Bank.

A breast surgeon will perform approximately 4 core breast biopsies, removing cells from your breast with a needle under local anesthesia. This is an outpatient procedure and usually takes about 30 minutes. One of the tissue samples will be sent to Dr. Finkielstein for her analyses related to this study and the remaining samples will be stored at the Komen Tissue Bank. You will also be asked to donate a blood sample for the Komen Tissue Bank.

Please note: In order to participate in this study, you will need to agree to provide breast tissue samples that will be shared between this study and the Komen Tissue Bank. You can learn more about the Komen Tissue Bankclick here or follow this link:https://komentissuebank.iu.edu

The researchers need to enroll approximately 23 more night-shift workers.

Who is conducting the study?

Where?

Who can participate?

You can join the Shift Work and Breast Cancer Risk Study if you match ALL of these MAIN categories:

- You are a woman between 30-54 years old

- You have never been diagnosed with breast cancer (it is OK if you have a history of other cancers)

- None of your first- or second-degree relatives have ever been diagnosed with breast cancer (it is OK if they have a history of other cancers). First-degree relatives include parents, siblings, or children. Second-degree relatives include grandparents, grandchildren, half-siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, or nephews.

- You have worked full time night shifts (anytime between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.) for at least 5 consecutive years (women who have worked part time will not be eligible)

- You are able to go to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis, IN, on January 28 or 29, 2012, for the core biopsy procedure

- You have never had a breast reduction or breast implants

- You are NOT allergic to local anesthetics (numbing medicine)
- You are NOT receiving a therapeutic blood thinner (this does NOT include aspirin)
- You have NOT undergone a total abdominal hysterectomy (removal of the ovaries and uterus)

- You are NOT currently pregnant or were pregnant within the last 12 months

- You are NOT currently lactating or have lactated within the last 12 months

- You understand that if you are eligible and choose to join this study, you are agreeing to participate in both the Shift Work and Breast Cancer Risk Study AND the Komen Tissue Bank. Some of your tissue sample will be sent to Dr. Finkielstein and the rest will be stored at the Komen Tissue Bank.

- You understand that you will be asked to complete two Consent Form documents: one for the Shift Work and Breast Cancer Risk Study and one for the Komen Tissue Bank

- You understand that you will be asked to complete two questionnaires: one for the Shift Work and Breast Cancer Risk Study and one for the Komen Tissue Bank

After you RSVP, the research team will ask you additional questions to be sure that this study is a good fit for you.